Ex-staffer: Madigan, top Democrats too slow to probe sex harassment claimBy SOPHIA TAREENA campaign worker for Illinois Democrats said Tuesday that it took party officials too long to respond after she reported sexual harassment by a male supervisor last year, allegations that prompted election-year calls for outside investigations and House Speaker Michael Madigan to step down from leadership roles.

5 potential problems to watch out for during the thawDaily Herald reportIce dams in your gutters? Snow in your attic? Flooding? Giant, slushy puddles that freeze into treacherous slick patches on driveways and sidewalks? Here’s how to get ready for this week’s rain and thaw.

Medicaid plan could shutter 2 hospitals, House vote delayedBy SARAH ZIMMERMANIllinois lawmakers' plan to redesign the way the state draws Medicaid health care funding could shutter two hospitals serving impoverished communities, threatening a deal that's taken them a year to negotiate with health care lobbyists

Kansas father fighting deportation now held in HawaiiBy MARGARET STAFFORDAttorneys for a Kansas father and husband who is fighting efforts to deport him say he was taken off a plane that was flying him back to his native Bangladesh and is being held at a detention center in Hawaii

Ivanka Trump touts business tax cuts in political hotspotThe Associated PressVisit to suburban Pittsburgh by President Donald Trump's daughter makes it 3rd time senior administration official has dropped in on political hotspot of 2018's 1st congressional election; seat left vacant by Republican's resignation amid abortion scandal

Lakewood addition approvedDaily Herald reportThe largest forest preserve in Lake County will grow by 8.2 acres with the authorization Tuesday by the Lake County Forest Preserve District board.

Trump adviser denies he cheered end of tunnel funding dealBy BERNARD CONDONA New York City developer who has advised the Trump administration on infrastructure is denying reports he is cheering on the president's decision not to pay for half of the $13 billion price tag for a new rail tunnel between New York and New Jersey

FBI contradicts White House on probe of former aide PorterBy DEB RIECHMANN and ZEKE MILLERFBI Director Christopher Wray says the agency provided the White House with information twice last year about a top Trump aide who resigned last week after domestic violence allegations from two ex-wives

St. Charles Township house fire claims family catBy Doug T. GrahamA St. Charles Township house near the big bend in the Fox River was rendered uninhabitable by a fire Tuesday morning. No one was injured in the blaze but the family’s cat died, Fox River & Countryside Fire/Rescue District officials said.

Trump prods Congress amid debate on immigrationBy KEVIN FREKING and JILL COLVINThe Senate got off to a slow start in this week's high-stakes immigration debate, with the chamber's Republican and Democratic leaders already at loggerheads over how to move forward

Students help prepare for Ash WednesdayDaily Herald reportBefore they and thousands of fellow Christians across the suburbs partake in Ash Wednesday services, students from St. Alphonsus Liguori School in Prospect Heights joined their church’s pastor Tuesday to make the ashes used in the yearly ritual.

Aurora man faces weapons chargesDaily Herald reportA 21-year-old Aurora man faces felony charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon after police said they found a loaded .22-caliber revolver in the pocket of his pants during a weekend traffic stop.

‘Mardi Gras Hangover’ is Six Flags new roller coasterBy Lee FilasSix Flags Great America hopes people will line up to get a “Hangover” this summer. Gurnee theme park officials announced Tuesday they will name their new, record-breaking loop coaster the “Mardi Gras Hangover” when it opens 2018.

Aurora police seeking information about a shootingBy Lee FilasAurora police are seeking information on a shooting Sunday afternoon on Daisy Street. Police said a house on the 1700 block of Daisy was struck by a single bullet at 3:30 p.m. that caused about $500 damage.

Olympics are a chance to go home again for Korean-AmericanBy CLAIRE GALOFAROWhen Song Hong used to tell his grandchildren about his childhood, he would joke that they were "country folks," from a rugged and rural corner of the world that none of their fellow Americans had ever heard of, or likely ever would

What's it like to be Olympic alternate? Ask Gurnee skater Danny O'SheaBy Eileen O. DadayPairs figure skating events are about to open at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, and for former U.S. champions Danny O'Shea of Gurnee and his partner Tarah Kayne, it is a bittersweet moment. But the two are remaining upbeat and celebrating their recent win at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.

Fremd finishes in fourth quarterDaily Herald reportFremd’s girls basketball team rallied from 34-26 halftime deficit and an 8-point deficit with five minutes left to keep its season alive with a 48-45 win over No. 13 seeded Wheeling in the semifinal of the Class 4A Zion Benton regional.

Grant surges past Hoffman EstatesBy Lou Nunez, Jr.Grant’s boys basketball team used 13-0 run over the final 3:02 of the third quarter to key a 69-58 nonconference win over Hoffman Estates on Tuesday night.

Presto: Another Prospect victoryBy John LeuschProspect’s girls basketball team won for the third time this season over Mid-Suburban League champ Hersey to advance to Thursday’s championship game of the Class 4A regional at Buffalo Grove High School. Emily Frasco (19 points) and Ashley Adams (12) were top scorers for the No. 8-seeded Knights, who will play top-seeded Warren on Thursday for the title.

Naperville North takes control against Naperville CentralBy Kevin SchmitBoys basketball: Naperville North claimed sole possession of first place in the DuPage Valley Conference, and may have sealed the top seed in the Class 4A Glenbard East sectional, with Tuesday’s 56-40 cross-town victory at Naperville Central.

Hoiberg sees a benefit to Bulls winning gamesBy Mike McGrawWith the Bulls in rebuilding mode, the debate about whether the team is better off losing figures to continue through the end of the season. Coach Fred Hoiberg addressed the topic on Tuesday.

Chiefs' career tackles leader Johnson to become free agentBy DAVE SKRETTADerrick Johnson's tenure with the Kansas City Chiefs is coming to an end. The franchise's career tackles leader and a four-time Pro Bowl selection, Johnson will become a free agent when his contract expires at the start of the new league year March 14

A's catcher Maxwell no longer will knell for national anthemThe Associated PressOakland catcher Bruce Maxwell says he no longer will kneel for the national anthem this season after became the first major leaguer to do so following the lead of many NFL players. He spoke as A's pitchers and catchers reported to spring training

NCAA considers tying transfer eligibility to academic marksBy RALPH D. RUSSOThe NCAA is considering allowing athletes who are doing well in the classroom the ability to transfer with immediate eligibility and permitting incoming freshmen to get out of a national letter of intent if there is a head coaching change

Verdasco, Monfils advance in Argentina OpenThe Associated PressFernando Verdasco and Gael Monfils won their first-round matches in the Argentina Open and Australian Open semifinalist Kyle Edmund withdrew from the tournament due to illness

Chicago Bears to play Ravens in Hall of Fame gameBy Arthur ArkushOn the weekend that former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher gets inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Bears and the Baltimore Ravens will open the NFL’s preseason at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

Hansen, U.S. teammates struggle in 1,500-meter speedskatingBy Anna KookGlenview’s Brian Hansen stood at the start line for the 1,500-meter speedskating race and realized he ate too much. “This is just going to sound like a big excuse but I felt like I had Thanksgiving out there,” said Hansen, who finished 15th Tuesday the the Pyeongchang Winter Games.

Why ‘Fifty Shades Freed’ is basically an episode of ‘House Hunters’By Sonia RaoAnastasia and husband Christian are newlyweds in rainy Seattle. She likes hanging out with friends near their condo in the city. He prefers hiding away in a mansion in the woods. This is “Fifty Shades Freed,” but it may as well be an episode of “House Hunters.”

Cozy urban neighborhoods offer many rewardsBy Christine BrunSome of the smallest homes are nestled in the most delicious neighborhoods. Surrounded by boutique shops, cafes, coffee houses and corner markets, one can enjoy a pedestrian lifestyle with ease.

Dining out: Round two of Beerhead Bar’s Big Bad Beer NightsBy Caroline LindenMount Prospect’s e+o fetes Chinese New Year Friday, Bahama Breeze honors National Margarita Day with $2.22 margaritas and Beerhead Bar hosts its second round of Big Bad Beer Nights. More on these and other dining events happening in the suburbs this week.

Chocolate Haystacks With Crushed Strawberries1/3 cup freeze-dried strawberries (see note)3 large shredded wheat cereal biscuits (about 2½ ounces)6 ounces dark chocolate (60 to 70 percent cocoa solids), choppedPlace the freeze-dried strawberries in a resealable plastic bag and use a mallet or rolling pin to crush them until they are mostly pulverized with some small pieces remaining.Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Use your hands to crush the shredded wheat into threadlike pieces over a medium bowl.Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan filled with a few inches of barely bubbling water (medium heat). Make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Melt the chocolate, stirring frequently, for about 1 minute, then remove the bowl from the pan. Add the crushed shredded wheat to the chocolate and stir until well coated.Use your fingers and/or a large spoon to transfer 16 tablespoon-size stacks of the cereal-chocolate mixture onto the waxed paper. Sprinkle some of the crushed strawberries on top of each stack. Refrigerate for about 20 minutes, or until set.Store and serve at room temperature.Note: Freeze-dried strawberries are typically located in the dry-goods section of a grocery store produce department.Serves 8 (makes 16 pieces)Nutrition | Per piece: 80 calories, 1 g protein, 9 g carbohydrates, 4 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 0 mg sodium, 1 g dietary fiber, 4 g sugarFrom nutritionist and cookbook author Ellie Krieger

For healthier candy, these chocolate haystacks crush itBy Ellie KriegerA melt-in-your-mouth chocolate confection with a cookie-like crunch, the haystack comes across as exacting to make, yet all that’s involved is coating shredded wheat cereal in melted chocolate and mounding the mixture into small piles onto a tray.

The rule of law is what’s at stakeBy Cokie Roberts and Steven V. RobertsSteven and Cokie Roberts: “I think it’s a disgrace, what’s happening in our country,” President Donald Trump declared recently. “A lot of people should be ashamed of themselves, and much worse than that.”